Red grapes are believed to be older than white grapes, which scientists suspect evolved as a DNA mutation of white grapes. The main difference between red and white winemaking is skin contact; by leaving the grape skins on during the fermentation, red wines absorb both colour and tannin from the skins. This is why red wines have the capacity to age for much longer than white wines, with the colour and tannin acting as preserving agents. Whereas acidity tends to be the most polarising element in white wines, tannin tends to be so in red wines.
Those red grapes with thicker skins and deeper colour typically produce wines of fuller body and with higher levels of tannin than those with thinner skins. Of course, winemaking plays a crucial role here, too, with oak offering additional wood tannin, and whole cluster fermentation contributing additional tannin from the seeds and stems. These methods allow some thin-skinned grapes like the Pinot Noir grape of the most coveted Burgundy Grand Crus to have long aging capacity rivalling that of their more naturally tannic brethren.
This is an incredibly rare tawny Port produced at the end of the 19th Century by Jorge Serôdio Borges’ great-great-grandfather, from a field blend of grapes from the Quinta da Manoella vineyard and in...
Adi Badenhorst is really putting the Swartland region on the fine wine map. The Family Red blend combines Shiraz, Grenache, Cinsault and Tinta Barroca to create a complex wine with aromas of black che...
Having worked harvests at Chateau Angelus, Alain Graillot, Wither Hills and esteemed Stellenbosch winery, Rustenberg, Adi Badenhorst bought a farm in the Paardeberg and established his own winery. Ove...
The Ramnasgras Cinsault comes from a single 1.5ha vineyard planted in 1956 and it is a delicious expression of variety by star winemaker Adi Badenhorst. The 2017 has beautiful scents of bright redcurr...
The 2018 Ringmuur Cinsault is a new wine from Swartland stalwart, Adi Badenhorst. It is made using carbonic maceration and is a thrilling drink of supreme delicacy but awesome fragrance. At only 12.5%...
Having worked harvests at Chateau Angelus, Alain Graillot, Wither Hills and esteemed Stellenbosch winery, Rustenberg, Adi Badenhorst bought a farm in the Paardeberg and established his own winery.
The 2017 Sk’Windjiesvlei Tinta Barroca comes from a 7ha vineyard planted in 1962 when the Portuguese variety was gaining popularity in South Africa. It has attractive wild aromas of blackberry, plum a...
Founded in 1999 by Mariano García – former oenologist at Vega Sicilia – and Javier Zaccagnini, Aalto has quickly become one of the greatest exponents of the Ribera del Duero.
PS, or Pagos Seleccionados, from Aalto is a strictly limited cuvée produced from 80- to 100-year-old Tempranillo vines in the prime Ribera del Duero districts of La Horra and La Aguilera.
Aalto has only existed since 1999, however, with Mariano Garcia (Vega Sicilia winemaker for 30 years) at the helm the winery has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the most highly regard...
Aalto has only existed since 1999, however, with Mariano Garcia (Vega Sicilia winemaker for 30 years) at the helm the winery has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the most highly regard...
Aalto has only existed since 1999, however, with Mariano Garcia (Vega Sicilia winemaker for 30 years) at the helm the winery has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the most highly regard...
Aged for 19 months in new French oak barrels, Aalto PS is a robust, full-bodied and nuanced wine, with a strong mineral character. The nose reveals ripe dark fruits, such as blackberries, prunes and ...
Aalto has only existed since 1999, however, with Mariano Garcia (Vega Sicilia winemaker for 30 years) at the helm the winery has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the most highly regard...
Aalto has only existed since 1999, however, with Mariano Garcia (Vega Sicilia winemaker for 30 years) at the helm the winery has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the most highly regard...
Aalto has only existed since 1999, however, with Mariano Garcia (Vega Sicilia winemaker for 30 years) at the helm the winery has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the most highly regard...
Aalto has only existed since 1999, however, with Mariano Garcia (Vega Sicilia winemaker for 30 years) at the helm the winery has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the most highly regard...
Aalto has only existed since 1999, however, with Mariano Garcia (Vega Sicilia winemaker for 30 years) at the helm the winery has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the most highly regard...
Aalto has only existed since 1999, however, with Mariano Garcia (Vega Sicilia winemaker for 30 years) at the helm the winery has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the most highly regard...
To celebrate their 20th anniversary in 1999, Aalto released this limited-edition jeroboam, from three vintages classified as ‘very good’ by the DO Ribera del Duero. 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Named after the small vineyard located in the Conca de Barberà DO in Catalonia, La Font Voltada is produced by Raventós Codorníu and made with the native grape variety Trepat. The wine has an enticing...
Iconic California viticulturalist, David Abreu, produces exceptional single-vineyard wines in tiny quantities. The 2012 Cappella is a Bordeaux-blend from one of the oldest sites in St Helena and is an...
